Returnal: Closed containers / gates - how to open? Returnal guide, walkthrough

Last update: 29 April 2021

This page of the Returnal guide explains how to open closed containers and gates / passageways. In addition, we warn about the potential dangers of opening harmful objects, which can weaken Selene, resembling a curse. We suggest how to avoid this status.

• Types of closed objects
• Using keys
• Dangers - harmful keys and containers

Types of closed objects

Returnal features two types of closed objects. These can be:

1. Loot containers.
2. Gates leading to optional locations.

Using keys

You need keys in order to open locks and we find them as loot.

The number of keys you have can be found in the lower right corner of the screen - it is displayed next to the mini-map.

Additional hint - the game involves parasites that allow you to reuse the same key. You can see an example of a parasite in the attached image. Unfortunately, using this automatically imposes a randomly selected weakening (debuff) on Selene.

Dangers - harmful keys and containers

Unfortunately, there is one serious difficulty with opening closed objects - we may encounter malignant keys and containers. This status is basically a curse - picking up a malignant key or opening a malignant container runs the risk of damaging Selene's armor. Some random Debuff can be imposed on us, which can, for example, make it harder to use a particular skill or shorten your health bar.

Of course, it is not obligatory to interact with a malignant object - we can ignore it. The game also allows you to read information about the probability of damage. If we have Ether, we can also cleanse the malignant object. However, we don't recommend it because Ether is a rare resource that is worth spending for other purposes. An exception should be made only if we do not have any keys, but we want to get somewhere and we found a contaminated key.